How Radebe conquered the odds
Paralympian now legal eagle
THIS picture of Samkelo Radebe posing with his 4x100m relay teammates Oscar Pistorius, Zivan Smith and Arnu Fourie next to an electronic timer flashing WR 41.78 at the Olympic Stadium in London four years ago remains one of the iconic images of the Paralympic Games.
The quartet had broken the world record on that September night in 2012.
Four years later, the fortunes have changed drastically for two members of that gold-winning side.
Radebe, 27, was recently admitted as an attorney at the North Gauteng High Court, ironically the same institution where Pistorius was sentenced in July for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
Radebe quit the sport two years ago to build on his law degree that he completed at the University of Johannesburg three years ago.
He said it took him seven years to complete his degree as it proved a difficult act to juggle studies, training and competition, coupled with travelling to international events that included the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India where he won a silver in the 100m.
“The [Paralympic] gold medal didn’t get me anything but my qualification as a lawyer is a lifetime benefit,” a proud Radebe told Sowetan.
“Instead of chasing another gold, I’ll be watching the Paralympics on TV this time around.
“For two years I was focusing on my studies; did two years of my articles at Werksmans Attorneys and I ventured into the job market. I pushed my degree and took a step further on top of the LLB. I am a lawyer now.”
Werksmans is a top SA corporate and commercial law firm, a field that Radebe specialises in. The Sandton-based firm successfully represented 2012 Comrades Marathon winner Ludwick Mamabolo in a doping case.
“Now that I’m a lawyer it puts me in a comfortable position and [it’s] even more fulfilling that I can be relied upon in the society,” said the Jabulani, Soweto-born SA champion.
However, Radebe is currently not practicing but he holds a nineto-five job at Liberty Life as financial adviser and wealth planner.
“It’s something new and outside of my comfort zone, which is law. But it is the flexibility that my qualifications offer. I’ve been here for a month now.”
Radebe did not want to comment much about his disgraced former national teammate Pistorius, his one-time idol.
“It is unfortunate for him but I am happy where I am now,” said Radebe who had both his arms amputated below the elbows after he got electrocuted when he was nine while trying to disentangle a wire from an electricity pylon.
He follows on the same path as Australia-based boxer Lovemore Ndou and Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng (one of the founders of Kaizer Chiefs), some of retired sports figures who ventured into the field of law.